Chapter 10, Lamenting the Fall of a Nation

The search was completed, and several merchants were pushed into the upper cabin of the ship. Following closely behind, Liu Jing stepped inside and was immediately struck by the dazzling bright light. Having become accustomed to the much purer darkness of modern times, Chen De was momentarily blinded upon entering this brightly lit room. He squinted his eyes and finally discerned that, aside from the guarding soldiers, the room was surrounded by many elegantly dressed officials, all of whom looked down upon the few merchants who had been brought in.

Hearing the foul language from his subordinate, the man in the purple robe furrowed his brow slightly and cast an inquiring glance at the elderly man in the purple robe beside him. The elderly man then gestured for the rather dejected-looking general across from him to speak up. The general first raised his hand to silence the officers below, and then asked: "Where are you merchants from? You travel the rivers and lakes; what kind of business do you engage in?"

The scar-faced general at the far left scolded, "You spoke boldly just now, but why have you shrunk back like a turtle now?"

Chen De raised his head and finally saw clearly that the person at the top was dressed in a black robe with yellow patterns, had a round face and a long beard, and his hands, which rested on his knees, were fair and slender, with the left hand seemingly holding a Buddhist seal. The person did not speak, but looked at Chen De with great interest, as if he were unaware of how to proceed.

Chen De silently nodded. At this moment, the small boat from the Southern Tang had already approached the heavy merchant ship. Several soldiers skillfully threw hooks over the ship's railing and then nimbly climbed aboard. Liu Jing took the lead, forcing a smile as he greeted these gentlemen, while also slipping a handful of copper coins to each soldier. The soldiers accepted the money, conducted a brief inspection of the cabin both inside and out, and then waved their short knives, instructing the boatman to steer the merchant ship closer to the fleet of the Southern Tang navy.

Several merchants were selected to board the tall ship in the middle, among them was Chen De. He exchanged a glance with Xing Gu, who was eager to follow behind, and then trailed behind Liu Jing, climbing up the rope ladder that had been thrown down from the ship.

As the ship drew closer, the crowd became increasingly anxious. Suddenly, Liu Jing let out a sigh and exclaimed, "It is a vessel from the Jiangnan Navy." The crowd immediately showed signs of joy and began to discuss among themselves in small groups.

At this moment, everyone in the cabin has noticed; the merchants and boatmen are crowded at the bow and stern of the boat, gazing into the distance. However, Chen De and the others have taken a few steps back, blending into the crowd. Xiao Jiu has already awakened the recently dozing Li Shun, his large hands firmly gripping him, preventing the curious young man from pushing forward.

Oh? I did not expect to encounter a refined person today. Please tell me more. The one in the middle, upon hearing poetry, became quite enthusiastic, and the sorrow that was previously evident in their expression has noticeably diminished.

Indeed, as soon as he finished speaking, several people sitting on either side shouted in unison: "You are bold." However, the middle-aged man in the hall waved his hand and said: "You do not seem like an ordinary merchant; tell me, what is the difference?"

As the day drew to a close, the sky gradually darkened. With the winds calm and the waters tranquil, the merchant, eager to cover more distance, urged the boatman to set sail under the moonlight, intending to dock only at midnight. For dinner, they had fava beans and smoked fish served with steamed buns, while several traveling merchants remained in the cabin drinking. Chen De quietly stood at the bow of the boat, hands clasped behind his back, admiring the moon. At this moment, the Yangtze River was devoid of the bustling activity that would come later; the river surface was still, shimmering faintly under the moonlight.

Otherwise, Chen De replied: "Since the Song people entered Shu, all the treasury has been moved to Kaifeng. The officials have scraped the ground three feet deep, yet still find it insufficient. How can the ordinary people of Shu possibly afford such fragrant medicines"

Chen De did not dare to raise his head and slowly said: "The king's flag has been lowered at the city wall, how could I know this in the depths of the palace? One hundred and forty thousand men have laid down their armor, and not a single one is a man."

A middle-aged man with a square face was squinting his eyes, scrutinizing Chen De from the seat of honor. He wore a loose red robe, and the open front revealed a finely crafted black iron scale armor. A bright, mirror-like iron plate protected his vital organs, and he was cinched at the waist with a wide tiger-striped jade belt. To his lower right sat another middle-aged general, also dressed in a red robe, with slightly dark skin and a fish-patterned leather belt. His expression appeared somewhat gloomy, as if he were somewhat distracted. Below him sat another general, similarly wearing a fish-patterned leather belt, dressed in black-patterned rhinoceros armor with a red base. His demeanor was deeply respectful, constantly glancing out of the corner of his eye at the movements of the superior seated above. Further down was a young general with a fierce expression; a scar the size of a fist on his left cheek made his face appear somewhat fearsome. Seeing that Chen De was still surveying the officials in the hall, he could not help but shout, "Bold commoner, if you continue to pry recklessly, beware of your dog eyes." Further down was another young general with a fierce expression; a scar the size of a fist on his left cheek made his face appear somewhat fearsome. Seeing that Chen De was still surveying the officials in the hall, he could not help but shout, "Bold commoner, if you continue to pry recklessly, beware of your dog eyes."

After Chen De finished speaking, before the general could respond, a person in the hall exclaimed, "Oh," and sighed, "They are actually trafficking in fragrant medicine. After the Song people plundered, the Shu people can still enjoy such wealth and honor." There was a hint of sentimentality in his expression.

Chen De bowed and said: "As a humble citizen, I am also inspired to speak. While in Chengdu, I once heard someone recite a poem by Lady Huarui, and I do not dare to tarnish the esteemed ears of all the gentlemen present."

Before he could take a closer look, Chen De's head was forcefully pressed down by a soldier behind him, compelling him to lower his gaze. He was struggling to suppress the rising anger within him when he suddenly heard someone from above softly say: "Be a bit more courteous; since these individuals are merely honest merchants, there is no need to use force." The soldier then apologized and withdrew.

Oh? Then who are you trading with?

As I drifted downstream, the river breeze gently blew, and I occasionally spotted a flock of egrets resting on the old tree by the riverbank, presenting a scene of leisurely tranquility

Xingu and Xiao Jiu closely followed behind Chen De, only to hear Chen De reciting with a nodding head: "The stars hang low over the vast plains, the moon surges over the great river." The two were puzzled by his words when they heard Chen De say: "Oh? Where did such a large ship come from?"

Otherwise. As soon as Chen De spoke these words, he immediately regretted it and wanted to slap himself twice. After hearing this sentiment, he recalled some comments he often encountered in later years. In a relaxed state following a satisfactory response to the inquiry, he inadvertently continued the conversation.

Ah? The person in the hall was momentarily speechless upon hearing this, and then sighed, saying: "Truly, the merchant girl knows not the sorrow of a fallen nation, still singing across the river the song of the garden flowers." Everyone fell silent.

Indeed. The person at the top gently nodded, and the gaze directed at Chen De softened with a hint of warmth. They then asked, "You are quite eloquent; do you have anything else to say?"

Recently, the various industries in Shu have been in decline, yet the Qin towers and Chu alleys, the water pavilions and orchid pavilions, are filled with the songs of orioles and the dances of swallows. Therefore, the fragrant medicines I sell have no shortage of buyers. Chen De bowed and replied, having considered it thoroughly. In such tumultuous times, people often adhere to the philosophy of enjoying the present moment, leading to an increasing demand for luxury items like fragrant medicines. Moreover, the officials are not very aware of the transactions of these special goods, making it easier to evade scrutiny.

The two followed Chen De's gaze and saw a tall ship floating at the junction of water and sky under the full moon. On either side of the large ship, there were also two medium-sized fast boats accompanying it. Xiao Jiu whispered, "This is bad! We have run into the navy's warship; we might not be able to escape." As soon as he finished speaking, the ship ahead had already released three small boats, which swiftly sailed towards the merchant ship they were on, propelled by the wind and current. At this moment, the captain panicked; there was no way for the merchant ship to escape the navy's warships on the river. He decided to lower the sails and let the ship drift across the river, waiting like a lamb to the slaughter.

Chen De quickly said: "I, a humble citizen, have been presumptuous; I hope the esteemed officials will forgive my offense"

Before Chen De could speak, Liu Jing preemptively said: "I report to the general and esteemed gentlemen, I am a native of Jiangling, and I have long been traveling along the river, often trading Jiangnan tea for silver in Shu." After he finished speaking, the people in the hall did not express any opinion, so the merchants began to state their origins and the goods they were trading one by one. When it was Chen De's turn, he bowed and said: "I am a native of Chengdu Prefecture, and this time I have come down the river to trade some fragrant medicines from Jiangnan to take back." The people in the hall did not express any opinion, so the merchants began to state their origins and the goods they were trading one by one. When it was Chen De's turn, he bowed and said: "I am a native of Chengdu Prefecture, and this time I have come down the river to trade some fragrant medicines from Jiangnan to take back"

The merchant ship was hired by a prominent trader named Liu Jing. Apart from a few fellow merchants traveling together, there were no others on board. In ancient times, transportation was inconvenient, and only merchants traveled far and wide, gaining experiences far beyond those of ordinary people. The merchants engaged in lively discussions about various local customs and products. Chen De, relying on his extensive knowledge, conversed with them eloquently, convincingly portraying himself as a seasoned trader who had spent many years transporting goods, raising no suspicions whatsoever. Liu Jing even subtly probed him, hoping to partner with Chen De in smuggling Shu brocade, to which Chen De ambiguously agreed. His demeanor impressed both Xin Gu and Xiao Jiu, who secretly admired him, thinking that Wei Ti indeed had a discerning eye for talent. Had it been any other soldiers from the Northern Han, they would likely have revealed their true identities long ago.

As soon as Chen De steadied himself at the bow of the ship, he could not help but feel a chill. Several unarmed merchants were surrounded by dozens of burly soldiers, as if they were facing a formidable enemy. Each merchant, including Chen De, was thoroughly searched from head to toe. Apart from Chen De, who had his hair cut short, the others were also required to undo their hair buns, so that the searching soldiers could check for any concealed weapons in their hair.

Chen De could only say: "Although the land of Shu is often regarded as rich and prosperous, the wealthy possess thousands of acres, while the poor have no place to stand. Since the Song army entered Shu, most counties and prefectures have been devastated. Countless properties of the local gentry and wealthy families have been confiscated, and many common people are selling their sons and daughters to seek basic sustenance. Those daughters who enter brothels, if they force a smile and please their patrons, may prolong their lives; however, if they show even a hint of displeasure, they may suffer physical abuse or, worse, be sold as camp prostitutes. Under the relentless destruction by the soldiers, they are unlikely to survive more than a few months." At this point, Chen De paused slightly and stole a glance at the person above him, only to see a deep furrow between his brows, reflecting a sense of empathy. He continued, "Thus, the common people believe that the destruction of the family and country is the responsibility of the strong men, while women and children suffer the most and should not be harshly blamed."

A young man in a blue shirt stood beside the central figure, holding a dark black flute. His expression was calm as he observed Chen De. To the right sat an elderly man in a purple robe, his face stern, with a stiff beard that appeared as sharp as needles, exuding an air of authority without anger. Beside him sat a middle-aged man with a kind expression, dressed in a red robe, with deep-set eye bags and three long strands of beard, resembling a private tutor from an ancient drama. Further down sat two younger individuals in green robes, wearing blue square caps, both maintaining a serious demeanor as they looked at the several merchants standing in the hall.

Seeing Chen De's inquiring gaze, Xiao Jiu explained: "The ships of the Song nation's navy are all newly built, differing in style from those traditionally found in Jiangnan. Moreover, the Song people, having traveled from afar, often kill and plunder foreign merchant vessels. The navy of the Tang nation mostly uses old ships, but the soldiers and officers have lived in the neighboring states for generations. Although they cannot avoid extorting passing merchants, they often leave some room for negotiation.